tights or knee warmers

This is my first year of serious recreational cycling and fall's colder weather is almost here. Drawing on the near infinite wisdom of this prestigious group what are the benefits of knee warmers over tights? Thanks Hotwired in Milwaukee

Knee warmers are fine if the day starts out Cool and is going to warm up. So how cold do you want to ride in?

Down to about freezing and it is dry- I use the Knickers- Knee length bib shorts as I don't have a great problem with the calf muscles staying cold after about 5 miles. Much below freezing and on will go the tights. Non padded and they go over the Knickers or shorts- so they can come off if it warms up but that has only happened once.

But cold weather and rain and on go the leggings- and the Ski mask. Cold rain hitting exposed skin on a cold day hurts.

I never cared much for tights. Used knee warmers but felt they upped the dorque-factor of cycling clothing in general. Now use full length leg warmers. I don't think they look as funny and give you versatility.

I used leg warmers for the commute this morning as it was in the 40's. It will be in the 70's when I ride home this afternoon, so I will just wear my shorts. As others have said, leg warmers are great if you think you won't need them for the entire ride. I prefer tights if I think it will stay cold enough to need them.

Since I have to deal w/ temps from the upper 30s to 80ish in the same day commuting or on a long road ride this time of year, I vote for knee warmers. They work fine down to freezing for me, and don't take up much room in my already crowded bag for the evening ride home. When you're carrying slacks, a dress shirt, tie, undies, socks, soap, shampoo, lunch, and pretty much everything else needed for a day at the office, all in a 10liter bag, compactness becomes a much appreciated virtue. And if it's a long training ride, they're easier to take off and stuff in the jersey pocket than tights are.

SP
Bend, OR
...where it was 42f this morning, and the forecast is for 76f this afternoon.

Knickers, then tights when it gets cold for most people. Not too may people go from 30's to 80's - yikes! I've got knee warmers and leg warmers to wear with shorts, and I've found that knickers really do the trick here in NJ. I've worn knickers down to 30's with adequate upper body protection. You can always strip off upper garments to keep cool. Protect your knees!

Arm warmers are great too.

"It could be anything. Scrap booking, high-stakes poker, or the Santa Fe lifestyle. Just pick a dead-end and chill out 'till you die."

I own both, but I rarely use the knee warmers. It seems logical that they would be perfect for rides that start out cool when you expect it to warm up...but I just never seem to grab them. If it's really cool, I wear tights, and even if it warms up they don't really get that hot.

For colder weather the fleece lined shorts can be coupled with either leg or knee warmers for maximum flexibility on a long ride. You can take off the leg warmer and put on the knee warmers. They both fit in the jersey.

For really cold weather I wear the Gavia stuff.

I ride when its cold and
I ride when its hot.
I ride when its wet and
I ride when its not.

Most economic fallacies derive from the tendency to assume that there is a fixed pie, that one party can gain only at the expense of another.....Milton Friedman

I use tights. I've yet to find a pair of knee warmers that will stay in place for the entire ride.

Oh I used to be disgusted and now I try to be amused. But since their wings have got rusted, you know, the angels wanna wear my red shoes. But when they told me 'bout their side of the bargain, that's when I knew that I could not refuse. And I won't get any older, now the angels wanna wear my red shoes.